United States Senate election in Illinois, 2026
|
← 2022
|
| U.S. Senate, Illinois |
|---|
 |
| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: November 3, 2025 |
| Primary: March 17, 2026 General: November 3, 2026 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times:
6 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Race ratings |
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
| See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 15th • 16th • 17th Illinois elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 |
Voters in Illinois will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 3, 2026. The primary is March 17, 2026. The filing deadline was November 3, 2025. The election will fill the Class II Senate seat held by Dick Durbin (D), who first took office in 1997. Durbin announced he would not seek re-election on April 23, 2025, saying, "The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch."[1] The Associated Press' Mary Clare Jalonick and John O'Connor called Durbin's retirement "a generational shift in Senate Democratic leadership where he has long held the No. 2 position."[2] Axios' Justin Kaufman wrote, "The race to replace Durbin will bring a heated primary election to Illinois, while reshaping the state's current congressional delegation."[3]
Noteworthy candidates include the following. Click here to view all of the candidates for the seat:
- U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D), first elected in 2013 (Declared)
- U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D), first elected in 2016 (Declared)
- Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D), who took office with Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) in 2018 (Declared)
- Former Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy (R), attorney at Brown, Hay & Stephens (Declared)
NBC News' Natasha Korecki wrote, "In recent months, Stratton has served as an opposing voice to President Donald Trump's administration, including in advocating for additional funding for education in the state amid announced federal cuts."[4] Pritzker endorsed Stratton.[5]
Announcing her candidacy, Kelly said, "I’ve been an effective leader. I’m a fighter. I’ve been standing up to Donald Trump just in these last three months, with my town hall meetings, with my face-to-face or my teletown hall meetings. I mean, the proof is in the pudding of the work I’ve done."[6]
Announcing his bid for the seat, Krishnamoorthi said in a campaign video, "I’ve made it my mission to fight for families like the ones I grew up with. People who just want a chance to work hard and realize their dreams. So I’ll never be quiet while billionaires like Elon Musk and a convicted felon deny the dreams of the next generation for their own egos and personal profit."[7]
Tracy announced his candidacy in August 2025, saying, "I will represent all of Illinois, not just Chicago."[8] Tracy said, "With the cost-of-living continuing to rise, life is simply unaffordable for working families — especially in Illinois, where we suffer under the highest tax burden in the nation and endure an economy that lags the rest of the Midwest because of tax-and-spend Democrats."[8]
Several other Republicans, including Doug Bennett, R. Cary Capparelli, Casey Chlebek, John Goodman, and Pamela Denise Long, are also running. Bennett ran in the 2018 general election for Illinois' 10th Congressional District against U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D), losing 65%-35%. Capparelli is an international businessman and university professor.[9] Chlebek ran in the 2020 and 2022 U.S. Senate elections in Illinois, earning 6% of the vote in the 2020 primary and 11% in the 2022 primary. Goodman is an Air Force veteran and political newcomer.[10] Long was an occupational therapist, political commentator, and doctor of organizational development.[11]
Both of Illinois' U.S. Senators—Durbin and Tammy Duckworth—are Democrats. The state's last Republican senator was Mark Kirk, who left office in 2017, following his 2016 defeat to Duckworth.
Illinois voted 54.4% to 43.5% for Kamala Harris (D) over Donald Trump (R) in the 2024 presidential election. For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:
- United States Senate election in Illinois, 2026 (March 17 Republican primary)
- United States Senate election in Illinois, 2026 (March 17 Democratic primary)
2026 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the March 17 Democratic primary as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election here
Ten candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Illinois on March 17, 2026. Three candidates have led in fundraising, media attention, and polling: Robin Kelly (D), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D), and Juliana Stratton (D). Incumbent Dick Durbin (D), who was first elected in 1996, announced his retirement on April 23, 2025.[12]
The Chicago Crusader's staff writes that the race "[features] three distinct candidacies that offer starkly different visions for the state’s political future and the national Democratic agenda."[13]
Kelly was elected to Illinois' 2nd Congressional District in 2013. She is campaigning on her record, saying, "I'm the only one federally that has a district like mine, urban, suburban, and rural, where I personally have delivered for each of those districts. I've been able to pass meaningful pieces of legislation around health care, saving lives."[14] On her website, Kelly details a plan called "People over Profits," which includes proposals to pass a minimum tax on individuals earning $100 million a year, raise the minimum wage to $17, and pass Medicare for All.[15]
Krishnamoorthi was elected to Illinois' 8th Congressional District in 2016. He said he would support free school lunches, increasing SNAP and Medicare spending, and a tax credit for new homeowners in the first five years they own a home.[16] Krishnamoorthi has also focused on his experience in business and government, saying, "You need to convince people that you can... stand up for their economics interests and address their economic pain points... as a former small business person and as someone who's worked on these issues in Congress, I feel uniquely positioned to deal with them."[17]
Stratton was elected lieutenant governor in 2018. She is campaigning on her record, saying, "To me, Illinois is the blueprint. What Governor Pritzker and I have done here in Illinois is the blueprint that I want to take to Washington, D.C., and I want to fight for Illinoisans just like I've done for seven years."[18] Stratton said she supports Medicare for All, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, and passing a federal version of Illinois’ Birth Equity Initiative to reduce maternal mortality.[19]
Each candidate has also focused on countering President Donald Trump's (R) policies. Kelly has campaigned on her record, saying, "Illinois needs someone who has worked in Congress, reached across the aisle in very challenging times, but still gotten the work done. And I’m not afraid to stand up to any bully."[20] Krishnamoorthi says he has opposed Trump's policies on ICE and tariffs, and said he would win voters by "[holding] the Trump administration accountable... whether it's on tariffs or whether it's with regard to ICE or any other agency of the government."[17] Stratton has campaigned on her record in state government, saying, "What I'm just seeing is that the old playbook in Washington, D.C., isn't working. People aren't... looking for people to just talk. They want to see real action, and that's exactly what we've done in our administration."[21]
The Wall Street Journal's John McCormick wrote, "The election is a test of [Governor J.B. Pritzker's (D)] clout."[22] Pritzker endorsed Stratton shortly after her campaign announcement.[23] Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illi.) and Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch (D) also endorsed Stratton.[24] Several labor unions, including the Teamsters and the American Federation of Government Employees, and former Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon (D), endorsed Krishnamoorthi.[25][26][27] The Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee, BradyPAC, and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) endorsed Kelly.[28]
As of the most recent financial reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Kelly raised $2.7 million and spent $2.2 million, Krishnamoorthi raised $24.9 million and spent $19.3 million, and Stratton raised $2.1 million and spent $1.2 million.
Steve Botsford Jr. (D), Sean Brown (D), Awisi Bustos (D), Jonathan Dean (D), Bryan Maxwell (D), Kevin Ryan (D), and Christopher Swann (D) are also running.
Candidates and election results
General election
The primary will occur on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for U.S. Senate Illinois
Austin Mink, Tyrone Muhammad, and Anthony Smith are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Illinois on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Austin Mink (Independent)  | |
 | Tyrone Muhammad (Independent) | |
| Anthony Smith (Independent) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois
The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Steve Botsford Jr. | |
 | Sean Brown | |
 | Awisi Bustos | |
 | Jonathan Dean | |
 | Robin Kelly | |
 | Raja Krishnamoorthi | |
 | Bryan Maxwell | |
 | Kevin Ryan | |
 | Juliana Stratton | |
 | Christopher Swann | |
 | Adam Delgado (Write-in) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Stanley Leavell (D)
- Robert Palmer (D)
- Jump Shepherd (D)
- Anthony Williams (D)
- Adair Rodriquez (D)
- Dick Durbin (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois
The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | R. Cary Capparelli | |
 | Casey Chlebek | |
 | Jeannie Evans | |
 | Pamela Denise Long | |
 | Jimmy Lee Tillman II | |
 | Don Tracy | |
 | Max Rice (Write-in) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Lloyd Jones (R)
- Panagioti Bartzis (R)
- CaSándra Claiborne (R)
- John Goodman (R)
- Doug Bennett (R)
- Januario Ortega (R)
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Independent
Incumbent: No
Submitted Biography: "My name is Austin James Mink. I’m from Winthrop Harbor Illinois—a small town in Northern Chicagoland. I come from a working-class family, a family of union workers. I am a filmmaker. I’m not the traditional person who would run for US Senate, I come from a modest living not one of wealth, I come from a family that’s struggled, I lost my father when I was only twenty-two years old, who was a tough thing for us as it was all so sudden, I have dealt with a lot of loss in my life, my family has experienced a lot of loss and grief, it changes your perspective on life and I believe it’s made me so much more compassionate and understanding of everyone, it’s made me strive to want to reach out and help as many people as I can, that’s why I’m running for US Senate not for vanity but because of my desire to help others and my commitment to public service. I’m an outsider in this race but that only makes me more determined to get to work to introduce myself and to learn so much more about the state of Illinois, the state I’ve lived in and have loved for all 31 years of my life so far. I’m the youngest person in the race at 31, 33 at swearing-in if elected. I’d also be the first openly bisexual-pansexual US Senator from Illinois if elected which would mark a historic first for the state."
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Illinois
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
| Collapse all
Austin Mink (Independent)
The candidate for anyone skeptical of the establishment. There’s a lot of money in this primary. I believe in ending the flow of dark money in our elections. I believe voters should decide not the oligarchy. I will fight tooth and nail against the oligarchy. I believe in a dynamic progressive wealth tax like in the OLIGARCH ACT that waxes and wanes with respect to where disparities lie. People don’t want another billionaire proxy in the US Senate. Illinois will need a fighter for the working class full stop. I will protect all Illinoisans from oligarchic greed and big money. I believe in fairness, transparency, and equality.
I am a left-libertarian. The candidate that appeals to all political landscapes in Illinois, I’m not just the candidate for democrats, I’m the candidate for independents, moderates, and anti-MAGA Republicans. I believe bipartisanship is important but you shouldn’t abandon your morals and values for the sake of bipartisanship, that’s the opposite of leadership to me. I plan to be a leader as a US Senator but just a follower. I’m not just going to be an empty suit. I plan to go to work to make a difference. We need to end mass warrantless surveillance. We need to repeal bad post-911 laws that have eroded civil liberties such as the PATRIOT ACT. Civil liberties need to be protected now more than ever. I’ll fight against authoritarianism.
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Where do polar bears keep their money? A snowbank.
Bears without Bees are just Ears.
Okay, I’ll show myself out.
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
Austin Mink (Independent)
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Botsford Jr. | Democratic Party | $359,171 | $230,991 | $128,180 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Sean Brown | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Awisi Bustos | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Jonathan Dean | Democratic Party | $60,724 | $67,554 | $-6,830 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Adam Delgado | Democratic Party | $15,572 | $36,948 | $-20,366 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Robin Kelly | Democratic Party | $2,949,085 | $1,349,279 | $1,599,806 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Raja Krishnamoorthi | Democratic Party | $28,480,748 | $13,234,415 | $15,246,332 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Bryan Maxwell | Democratic Party | $21,976 | $14,778 | $7,198 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Kevin Ryan | Democratic Party | $83,936 | $72,401 | $11,535 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Juliana Stratton | Democratic Party | $3,199,075 | $2,077,480 | $1,121,595 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Christopher Swann | Democratic Party | $4,768 | $4,175 | $593 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| R. Cary Capparelli | Republican Party | $10,495 | $4,576 | $5,919 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Casey Chlebek | Republican Party | $105,000 | $100,295 | $4,705 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Jeannie Evans | Republican Party | $510,862 | $212,268 | $298,594 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Pamela Denise Long | Republican Party | $18,405 | $16,453 | $1,952 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Max Rice | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Jimmy Lee Tillman II | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Don Tracy | Republican Party | $2,145,931 | $118,123 | $2,027,808 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Austin Mink | Independent | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Tyrone Muhammad | Independent | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Anthony Smith | Independent | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
|||||
General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[29]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[30][31][32]
| Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in Illinois, 2026 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| 2/3/2026 | 1/27/2026 | 1/20/2026 | 1/13/2026 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | |||||
| Decision Desk HQ and The Hill | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Democratic | Safe Democratic | Safe Democratic | Safe Democratic | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week. | |||||||||
Ballot access
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Illinois in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Illinois, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Illinois | U.S. Senate | Established parties | 5,000 | N/A | 11/3/2025 | Source |
| Illinois | U.S. Senate | Independents | 25,000 | N/A | 5/26/2026 | Source |
Election history
The section below details election results for this state's U.S. Senate elections dating back to 2016.
2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Illinois
Incumbent Tammy Duckworth defeated Kathy Salvi, Bill Redpath, Lowell Seida, and Connor VlaKancic in the general election for U.S. Senate Illinois on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tammy Duckworth (D) | 56.8 | 2,329,136 |
 | Kathy Salvi (R) | 41.5 | 1,701,055 | |
 | Bill Redpath (L) | 1.7 | 68,671 | |
 | Lowell Seida (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 23 | |
 | Connor VlaKancic (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 11 | |
| Total votes: 4,098,896 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- W. Thomas La Fontaine Olson (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois
Incumbent Tammy Duckworth advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tammy Duckworth | 100.0 | 856,720 |
| Total votes: 856,720 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kathy Salvi | 30.2 | 216,007 |
 | Peggy Hubbard | 24.8 | 177,180 | |
 | Matthew Dubiel | 12.7 | 90,538 | |
| Casey Chlebek | 10.7 | 76,213 | |
 | Bobby Piton | 9.2 | 65,461 | |
 | Anthony Williams | 7.4 | 52,890 | |
| Jimmy Lee Tillman II | 5.1 | 36,342 | |
| Total votes: 714,631 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Maryann Mahlen (R)
- Eric Wallace (R)
- Allison Salinas (R)
- Rob Cruz (R)
- Lanette Hudson (R)
- Timothy Arview (R)
2020
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Illinois
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Illinois on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Dick Durbin (D) | 54.9 | 3,278,930 |
 | Mark Curran (R) | 38.9 | 2,319,870 | |
 | Willie Wilson (Willie Wilson Party) | 4.0 | 237,699 | |
 | Danny Malouf (L) | 1.3 | 75,673 | |
 | David Black (G) | 1.0 | 56,711 | |
| Kevin Keely (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 10 | ||
| Lowell Seida (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 6 | |
| Albert Schaal (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Total votes: 5,968,901 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Patrick Feges (Independent)
- Chad Koppie (Constitution Party)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois
Incumbent Dick Durbin advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on March 17, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dick Durbin | 100.0 | 1,446,118 |
| Total votes: 1,446,118 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Anne Stava (D)
- Marilyn Jordan Lawlor (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on March 17, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Curran | 41.6 | 205,747 |
| Peggy Hubbard | 22.9 | 113,189 | |
 | Robert Marshall | 15.3 | 75,561 | |
 | Tom Tarter | 14.7 | 73,009 | |
| Casey Chlebek | 5.6 | 27,655 | |
| Richard Mayers (Write-in) | 0.0 | 7 | ||
| Total votes: 495,168 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Burak Agun (R)
- Dean Seppelfrick (R)
- Connor VlaKancic (R)
- Preston Nelson (R)
2016
The race for Illinois' U.S. Senate seat was one of nine competitive battleground races in 2016. U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D) defeated incumbent Mark Kirk (R)—who was seeking re-election to his second term—Kenton McMillen (L), and Scott Summers (G) in the general election on November 8, 2016.
In her victory speech, Duckworth said, “Tonight, we showed a campaign that respects voters and is focused on practical solutions rather than shopworn slogans can be successful. We showed that a relentless focus on rebuilding Illinois’ middle class and respecting hard worth rather than wealth can be successful, too.”[33]
During his concession speech, Kirk said, "What unites us as Americans is much stronger than what divides us." Kirk also invited Duckworth to have a beer with him as a peace offering. He said, “This beer summit with [sic] show kids across Illinois that opponents can peacfully [sic] bury the hatchet.”[33][34]
Kirk's seat was vulnerable in 2016 due to Illinois' tendency to vote overwhelmingly for Democrats during presidential election cycles. Kirk faced significant opposition from national Democrats who targeted Illinois as an essential seat needed to regain the majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats picked up two seats in Election Day, but they fell short of the five seats that they needed to take control of the Senate.[35]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Tammy Duckworth |
54.9% | 3,012,940 | |
| Republican | Mark Kirk Incumbent | 39.8% | 2,184,692 | |
| Libertarian | Kenton McMillen | 3.2% | 175,988 | |
| Green | Scott Summers | 2.1% | 117,619 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0% | 639 | |
| Total Votes | 5,491,878 | |||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections | ||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mark Kirk Incumbent |
70.6% | 931,619 | ||
| James Marter | 29.4% | 388,571 | ||
| Total Votes | 1,320,190 | |||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections |
||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tammy Duckworth |
64.4% | 1,220,128 | ||
| Andrea Zopp | 24% | 455,729 | ||
| Napoleon Harris | 11.6% | 219,286 | ||
| Total Votes | 1,895,143 | |||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections |
||||
Election analysis
Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.
- Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the state.
- Statewide elections - Information about recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections in the state.
- State partisanship - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
- Demographics - Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.
Cook PVI by congressional district
| District | Incumbent | PVI |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois' 1st | Jonathan Jackson | D+18 |
| Illinois' 2nd | Robin Kelly | D+18 |
| Illinois' 3rd | Delia Ramirez | D+17 |
| Illinois' 4th | Chuy Garcia | D+17 |
| Illinois' 5th | Mike Quigley | D+19 |
| Illinois' 6th | Sean Casten | D+3 |
| Illinois' 7th | Danny Davis | D+34 |
| Illinois' 8th | Raja Krishnamoorthi | D+5 |
| Illinois' 9th | Jan Schakowsky | D+19 |
| Illinois' 10th | Brad Schneider | D+12 |
| Illinois' 11th | Bill Foster | D+6 |
| Illinois' 12th | Mike Bost | R+22 |
| Illinois' 13th | Nikki Budzinski | D+5 |
| Illinois' 14th | Lauren Underwood | D+3 |
| Illinois' 15th | Mary Miller | R+20 |
| Illinois' 16th | Darin LaHood | R+11 |
| Illinois' 17th | Eric Sorensen | D+3 |
2024 presidential results by 2026 congressional district lines
| District | Kamala Harris  | Donald Trump  |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois' 1st | 65.0% | 33.0% |
| Illinois' 2nd | 66.0% | 33.0% |
| Illinois' 3rd | 65.0% | 34.0% |
| Illinois' 4th | 63.0% | 35.0% |
| Illinois' 5th | 68.0% | 31.0% |
| Illinois' 6th | 52.0% | 47.0% |
| Illinois' 7th | 82.0% | 17.0% |
| Illinois' 8th | 53.0% | 46.0% |
| Illinois' 9th | 68.0% | 31.0% |
| Illinois' 10th | 60.0% | 38.0% |
| Illinois' 11th | 55.0% | 44.0% |
| Illinois' 12th | 28.0% | 71.0% |
| Illinois' 13th | 54.0% | 44.0% |
| Illinois' 14th | 52.0% | 47.0% |
| Illinois' 15th | 29.0% | 69.0% |
| Illinois' 16th | 38.0% | 61.0% |
| Illinois' 17th | 52.0% | 47.0% |
| Source: The Downballot | ||
2016-2024
How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. Click [show] on the table below for examples:
| County-level voting pattern categories | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | |||||||
| Status | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | ||||
| Solid Democratic | D | D | D | ||||
| Trending Democratic | R | D | D | ||||
| Battleground Democratic | D | R | D | ||||
| New Democratic | R | R | D | ||||
| Republican | |||||||
| Status | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | ||||
| Solid Republican | R | R | R | ||||
| Trending Republican | D | R | R | ||||
| Battleground Republican | R | D | R | ||||
| New Republican | D | D | R | ||||
Following the 2024 presidential election, 72.8% of Illinoisans lived in one of the state's 12 Solid Democratic counties, which voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 2016 to 2024, and 24.7% lived in one of 88 Solid Republican counties. Overall, Illinois was Solid Democratic, having voted for Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016, Joe Biden (D) in 2020, and Kamala Harris (D) in 2024. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in Illinois following the 2024 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.
| Illinois county-level statistics, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Democratic | 12 | 72.8% | |||||
| Solid Republican | 88 | 24.7% | |||||
| Trending Democratic | 2 | 2.5% | |||||
| Total voted Democratic | 14 | 75.3% | |||||
| Total voted Republican | 88 | 24.7% | |||||
Historical voting trends
Illinois presidential election results (1900-2024)
- 17 Democratic wins
- 15 Republican wins
| Year | 1900 | 1904 | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winning Party | R | R | R | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.
U.S. Senate elections
The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in Illinois.
Gubernatorial elections
- See also: Governor of Illinois
The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in Illinois.
Congressional delegation
The table below displays the partisan composition of Illinois' congressional delegation as of October 2025.
| Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Illinois | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total |
| Democratic | 2 | 14 | 16 |
| Republican | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vacancies | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 17 | 19 |
State executive
The table below displays the officeholders in Illinois' top four state executive offices as of October 2025.
| Office | Officeholder |
|---|---|
| Governor | J.B. Pritzker |
| Lieutenant Governor | Juliana Stratton |
| Secretary of State | Alexi Giannoulias |
| Attorney General | Kwame Raoul |
State legislature
Illinois State Senate
| Party | As of October 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 40 | |
| Republican Party | 19 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 59 | |
Illinois House of Representatives
| Party | As of October 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 78 | |
| Republican Party | 40 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 118 | |
Trifecta control
Illinois Party Control: 1992-2025
Nineteen years of Democratic trifectas • Two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
The table below details demographic data in Illinois and compares it to the broader United States as of 2023.
| Demographic Data for Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | United States | |
| Population | 12,812,508 | 331,449,281 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 55,512 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 63.3% | 63.4% |
| Black/African American | 13.8% | 12.4% |
| Asian | 5.8% | 5.8% |
| Native American | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Other (single race) | 7.3% | 6.6% |
| Multiple | 9.2% | 10.7% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 18.5% | 19% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 90.3% | 89.4% |
| College graduation rate | 37.2% | 35% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $81,702 | $78,538 |
| Persons below poverty level | 11.7% | 12.4% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2018-2023). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ X, "Dick Durbin on April 23, 2025," accessed May 2, 2025
- ↑ Washington Post, "Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, won't seek reelection to a sixth term in 2026," April 23, 2025
- ↑ Axios, "Senate race could set off seismic shift in Illinois politics," May 12, 2025
- ↑ NBC News, "Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton becomes the first to launch a bid for Dick Durbin's Senate seat," April 24, 2025
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedfox - ↑ NBC Chicago, "Rep. Robin Kelly announces run for Senate, making her 2nd candidate to enter race," May 6, 2025
- ↑ NBC Chicago, "Schaumburg Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi launches U.S. Senate bid," May 7, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 WTTW, "Former Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy Announces US Senate Run to Replace Dick Durbin," August 13, 2025
- ↑ Chambana Today, " R. Cary Capparelli announces bid for U.S. Senate as Republican candidate from Illinois," April 28, 2025
- ↑ John Goodman 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed May 9, 2025
- ↑ Pamela Denise Long 206 campaign website, "Home," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ Senator Dick Durbin, "Durbin Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2026," April 23, 2026
- ↑ Chicago Crusader, "Three-way race divides Illinois Democrats on path forward in March primary," December 22, 2025
- ↑ The Edwardsville Intelligencer, "Seven questions with Senate candidate Robin Kelly," October 16, 2025
- ↑ Robin Kelly 2026 campaign website, "Robin Kelly's "People Over Profits" Platform," accessed January 11, 2025
- ↑ Chicago Sun Times, "Krishnamoorthi's 'American Dream' economic plan includes homeowner tax credit, free lunch for kids," December 2, 2025
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 The Edwardsville Intelligencer, "Seven questions with Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi," December 3, 2025
- ↑ The Edwardsville Intelligencer, "Seven questions with Senate candidate Juliana Stratton," December 3, 2025
- ↑ Capitol News Illinois, "Juliana’s Blueprint," accessed January 11, 2026
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Illinois Democratic Senate primary race has started slow. But contrasts emerge in bid to replace Dick Durbin," December 26, 2025
- ↑ NPR, "Stratton’s top priority in Senate campaign: Fighting back against Trump," May 2, 2025
- ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "JB Pritzker’s Illinois Political Clout Faces Test in Senate Primary," December 28, 2025
- ↑ ABC 7,' "Governor JB Pritzker endorses Juliana Stratton for Senate," April 25, 2025
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Juliana Stratton’s US Senate bid endorsed by House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch," July 14, 2025
- ↑ Chicgo Tribune, "US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi adds to labor backing in Senate race with endorsement from Teamsters joint council," November 24, 2025
- ↑ American Federation of Government Employees, "Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Raja Krishnamoorthi for Election to the U.S. Senate," January 8, 2026
- ↑ American Bazaar, "Former Illinois Lt. governor Sheila Simon endorses Raja Krishnamoorthi for US Senate," December 1, 2025
- ↑ Robin Kelly 2026 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed January 14, 2026
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 WTTW.com, "Duckworth Defeats Kirk in Heated US Senate Race," accessed November 15, 2016
- ↑ CBS Chicago, "Tammy Duckworth Defeats Mark Kirk In U.S. Senate Race," accessed November 15, 2016
- ↑ Roll Call, "Democrats Could Face Primary Mess in Illinois Senate Race," January 23, 2015
